Control arrangement for needle bars in drawing frames and the like



Sept. 1, 1964 G. WERNER 3,145,496

CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR NEEDLE BARS IN DRAWING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed April 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 b 0 i 3 @h O\O O O a O I o I O 3 l 7 M W O M YQ aooopooooofi ll "z: p I 2 I l o'h INVENTOR:

Afro/r1145) Sept. 1, 1964 G. WERNER 3,146,496

CONTROL. ARRANGEMENT FOR NEEDLE BARS IN DRAWING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed April 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR: /0 /0 60/1/7229? yam/.54

United States Patent 3,146,496 CONTRUL ARRANGEMENT FOR NEEDLE BARS IN DRAWING FRAMES AND THE LIKE Giinther Werner, Reinbelt, Sachsenwald, Germany, as-

signor to Hanseatische Mctoren-Gesellschaft m.b.H., Harnhurg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Apr. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 100,934 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 7, 1960 7 Claims. (Cl. 19-127) The present invention relates to drawing frames in general, and more particularly to an arrangement which controls the position of needle bars during engagement of the needles with a web of fibers. Still more particularly, the invention relates to an arrangement which maintains the rows of needles on the needle bars substantially at right angles with respect to the web of fibers as long as the needles are in actual engagement with the web.

An important object of the invention is to provide a drawing frame wherein the drive means for the needle bars may extend into immediate proximity of the drawing and retaining rollers so that the drawing frame may be utilized for the treatment of very short lengths of web at the same time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drawing frame of the just outlined characteristics wherein the needle bars are free to assume any desired angular position as soon as their needles are moved away from contact with the fibers, and wherein the needle bars may be located in very close proximity to each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control arrangement for the needle bars of a drawing frame which occupies little space, which is of extremely simple construction, which may be conveniently applied in many drawing frames of presently known design, and which requires only slight modifications in the configuration of the needle bars.

With the above and certain other objects in View, the invention resides in the provision of a drawing frame comprising spaced pairs of drawing and retaining rollers for a web of fibers or slivers which extends between and is supported by the pairs of rollers, a pair of endless flexible elements and drive means for moving the flexible elements in a path a straight portion of which extends in parallelism with and adjacent to the web, a plurality of parallel needle bars having ends rotatably supported by and extending between the two flexible elements so as to move along the web whereby their needles engage and treat the fibers when the flexible elements are in motion, and means comprising a preferably cam shaped fixed guide member and cranks provided on the needle bars intermediate the flexible elements for preventing angular movements of the needle bars while the needles engage the web whereby the needles remain in a given angular position, preferably at an angle of 90 degreees, with respect to the web and with respect to the straight portions of the flexible elements.

It is preferred to utilize flexible elements in the form of link chains and to mount the ends of the needle bars on the pins which connect the links of the respective chains. Such construction renders it possible to provide the sprockets for the chains in immediate proximity of the drawing and retaining rollers and to utilize the drawing frame in connection with comparatively short fibers.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a drawing frame embodying the invention with certain parts partly broken away; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the drawing frame as seen in the direction of the arrow II in FIG. 1, certain parts of the flexible elements being shown in partial section.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, there is shown a drawing frame comprising two pairs of rollers 8 and 8' one pair of which constitutes the retaining rollers 8 and the other pair of which constitutes the drawing rollers 8 for a web of fibers or slivers 9. Adjacent to the path of the slivers 9, there is provided a needle bar mechanism comprising pairwise arranged sprockets 5, 6, 7 for a pair of endless flexible elements in the form of link chains 3, 3a whose pins 10 are provided with trunnions 11 extending into the space between the chains 3, 3a to preferably rotatably support the respective ends of the needle bars 1. Each needle bar carries a row of aligned radially extending needles 2 whose end portions engage the web of slivers 9 when the chains 3, 3a are driven by one or more pairs of sprockets 5, 6, 7. In order to insure that the portions or stringers 3, 3a of the chains extending between the pairs of sprockets 5, 7 should maintain the needle bars 1 in an angular position in which the needles 2 are substantially perpendicular to the web of slivers 9, each needle bar is formed with a double throw crank 1a located between the chains 3, 3a as best shown in FIG. 2, and cooperating with a fixed guide earn 4 in a manner shown in FIG. 1 so as to prevent angular displacement of the needle bars momentarily advancing between the pairs of sprockets 5 and 7. The cam 4 is fixed to a non-illustrated stationary part of the drawing frame. The cranks 101 may be arranged adjacent to one of the chains 3, 3a and in FIG. 2

the cranks are shown adjacent the chain 3a.

Since the needle bars 1 are free to rotate as soon as they leave the space between the pairs of sprockets 5 and 7, their needles 2 are then free to assume positions dictated by gravity as soon as they begin to travel about the sprockets 5 and 7 which insures that these sprockets may be mounted in immediate proximity of the respective roller pairs 8. This is of considerable advantage because the drawing frame may be utilized for the drafting of webs consisting of very short slivers.

The needle bars travel in a path which includes portions of the pitch circles of the sprockets 5, 6 and 7. This insures that the deflection of the chains 3, 3a takes place in an arc of extremely small radius, i.e. in an arc corresponding to the pitch circles of the teeth on the sprockets. Also, the bars 1 may be mounted in very close proximity of each other.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A drawing frame for treating a web of fibrous ma terial comprising, in combination, spaced drawing and retaining rollers for supporting the web therebetween; a first and a spaced second endless link chain, each chain comprising a plurality of pins for articulately connecting the links to each other, each of said pins comprising an extension projecting into the space between said chains;

means for guiding-said link chains in a path having a straight portion adjacent to and substantially parallel with the web; a plurality of transverse needle bars ex tending between and each having end portions rotatably mounted on an extension of a pin of said first and second chain, respectively, each needle bar comprising a row of aligned radially extending needles and each having a double-throw cranked portion located intermediate said chains; and a fixed endless guide cam extending at least partially intermediate of said chains engaging said cranked portions to prevent angular movements of said needle bars and to maintain the needles at a predetermined angle With respect to the web.

2. In a drawing frame, in combination, a first and a spaced second pair of sprockets; a first and a second endless link chain, said chains mounted for movement about said sprockets and each having a straight portion extending between said sprockets, each chain further comprising a plurality of transversely extending pins for articulately connecting the links to each other; a plurality of transverse needle bars extending between said chains and each having two ends respectively rotatably connected to a pin of said first and second chain so that the axes of the needle bars travel in paths which partially coincide with the pitch circles of said sprockets, each needle bar formed with a double-throw crank located intermediate said chains; and a fixed endless guide cam extending at least partially between and at least partially in parallelism with said portions of the chains engaging said cranks to prevent angular displacements of said needle bars.

3. In a drawing frame, in combination, a first and a spaced second pair of sprockets; a first and a second endless link chain, said chains mounted for movement about said sprockets and each having a straight portion extending between said sprockets, each chain further comprising a plurality of transversely extending pins for articulately connecting the links to each other; a plurality of transverse needle bars extending between said chains and each having two ends respectively rotatably connected to a pin of said first and second chain so that the axes of the needle bars travel in paths which partially coincide with the pitch circles of said sprockets, each needle bar comprising a row of aligned substantially radially extending needles and each formed with a double-throw crank located intermediate said chains; and a single fixed endless guide cam means extending at least partially between and at least partially in parallelism with said portions of the chains engaging said cranks to prevent angular displacements of said needle bars, said needles being held perpendicular to said portions of the chains by said guide cam means engaging the cranks of the respective needle bars.

4. In a drawing frame, in combination, a pair of spaced endless flexible elements; means for guiding each of said flexible elements in a path having a straight portion; a plurality of needle bars extending transversely between and having ends connected with said flexible elements, each of said bars comprising a row of aligned needles; and an arrangement comprising a single stationary and endless guide member extending with a part thereof along 4?, said straight portion and means provided on said needle bars intermediate said flexible elements and engaging said guide member to hold the bars against angular movement and to maintain said needles at a predetermined angle with respect to said portion.

5. In a drawing frame, in combination, a pair of spaced endless flexible elements; means for guiding each of said flexible elements in a path having a straight portion; a plurality of closely adjacent parallel needle bars extending transversely between and having ends connected with said flexible elements, each of said bars comprising a row of aligned needles; and an arrange ment comprising a single stationary and endless guide member extending with a part thereof along said straight portion and means provided on said needle bars intermediate said flexible elements and engaging said guide member to hold the bars against angular movement and to maintain said needles at a predetermined angle with respect to said portion.

6. In a drawing frame, in combination, a pair of spaced endless link chains; means comprising pairwise arranged sprocket means for guiding the link chains in paths having substantially straight and parallel portions; a plurality of needle bars extending transversely between and having ends connected withsaid link chains, each of said bars comprising a row of aligned needles; and an arrangement comprising a single stationary and endless guide member extending with a straight part thereof along one of said straight portions and means provided on said needle bars intermediate said link chains and engaging said guide member to hold the bars against angular movement and to maintain said needles at a predetermined angle with respect to said one portion during movement of said link chains along saidone portion of said paths.

7. In a drawing frame, in combination, a pair of spaced endless flexible elements; means for guiding each of said flexible elements in a path having a straight portion; a plurality of needle bars extending transversely between and having ends connected with said flexible elements, each of said bars comprising a row of aligned needles; and an arrangement comprising a single stationary and endless guide member extending with a part thereof along said straight portion and means provided on said needle bars intermediate said flexible elements and adjacent to one of said flexible elements and engaging said guide member to hold the bars against angular movement and to maintain said needles at a predetermined angle With respect to said portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 165,825 Herrschaft et al. July 20, 1875 1,048,526 Good Dec. 31, 1912 1,191,959 Good July 25, 1916 2,666,958 Dotti Jan. 26, 1954 2,754,548 Heitmuller et al. July 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 716,794 Great Britain Oct. 13, 1954 

1. A DRAWING FRAME FOR TREATING A WEB OF FIBROUS MATERIAL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, SPACED DRAWING AND RETAINING ROLLERS FOR SUPPORTING THE WEB THEREBETWEEN; A FIRST AND A SPACED SECOND ENDLESS LINK CHAIN, EACH CHAIN COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PINS FOR ARTICULATELY CONNECTING THE LINKS TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID PINS COMPRISING AN EXTENSION PROJECTING INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID CHAINS; MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID LINK CHAINS IN A PATH HAVING A STRAIGHT PORTION ADJACENT TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH THE WEB; A PLURALITY OF TRANSVERSE NEEDLE BARS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND EACH HAVING END PORTIONS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON AN EXTENSION OF A PIN OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHAIN, RESPECTIVELY, EACH NEEDLE BAR COMPRISING A ROW OF ALIGNED RADIALLY EXTENDING NEEDLES AND EACH HAVING A DOUBLE-THROW CRANKED PORTION LOCATED INTERMEDIATE SAID CHAINS; AND A FIXED ENDLESS GUIDE CAM EXTENDING AT LEAST PARTIALLY INTERMEDIATE OF SAID CHAINS ENGAGING SAID CRANKED PORTIONS TO PREVENT ANGULAR MOVEMENTS OF SAID NEEDLE BARS AND TO MAINTAIN THE NEEDLES AT A PREDETERMINED ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE WEB. 